Hana Silna, 18, flies to Prague to reclaim a house the Communists took from her family when the Soviets invaded in 1968. If Hana seems quite young to own a castle that comes with a name like “The Rockery,” she is and she’s the first to admit it. She’s doing this for her mother who lies ill in a hospital, battling a rare blood disease, too ill to travel. It’s up to Hana to reclaim what was taken before the Czech Republic says “Sorry, too late!”
Well, Hana is entitled to half of The Rockery. Hana’s mom’s cousin Simona will own the other half. Cousin Simona is already living there, with her lover Michal and Hana’s senile grandmother Babi. Any hopes for a happy family reunion replete with picnics overlooking the beautiful Charles Bridge are quickly dashed when crooks break into the basement of the castle and leave some dead bodies scattered about.
To add to the intrigue, a potent flask may be hidden in the basement of the Rockery, which no one could get to when it was a museum celebrating the history of the Soviet police. But now that the offending tanks have been removed, there is access – access to a flask that promises immortality. Legend has it this elixir was first tested on many gypsies, poured into their blood and marrow as an experiment, and unfortunately, many gypsies died. Everyone wants that magic elixir – for power, for revenge, for profit, for a sick loved one, for eternal life — which means Hana isn’t always sure who she can trust and what she can believe.
The story is action-packed, full of secrets, and moves at a fast clip. DeBruce keeps you guessing and turning the pages, as many chapters are quite short. THE RIDDLE OF PRAGUE is part of a series, so it ends with a romantic teaser – the lure of Paris.
THE RIDDLE OF PRAGUE is a compelling adventure worth traveling for. Expect some turbulence.
Reviewed by Lucy Wang for IndieReader